“LIGHTENED WITH HIS GLORY”

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 1888 MESSAGE

Robert J. Wieland

Chapter 6

Questions About Unknown Sin

Is there such a thing as unconscious sin? Does the 1888 message speak of it?

We know that the most terrible sin ever committed was an unknown sin. Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

To “know not” something is to be unconscious of it. And to blame the Jews and the Romans for that crime is shortsighted, for we all partake of that guilt (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 38; The Desire of Ages, p. 745). Yet the human race is still not conscious of that sin.

Laodicea’s pride is likewise an unknown sin, for the True Witness says, “Thou … knowest not” (Revelation 3:17). King Hezekiah did not know of the evil buried in his heart when he was sick unto death. That evil came to the surface after he was healed. “God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chronicles 32:31).

David prayed a better prayer than did Hezekiah, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me …” (Psalm 139:23, 24).

Yes, the 1888 messengers did speak of unknown sin being brought to consciousness by the Holy Spirit’s ministry on this Day of Atonement.

Where in the 1888 message itself do we find this idea expressed?

When sin is pointed out to you, say, “I would rather have Christ than that.” And let it go. [Congregation: “Amen.”] … Then where … is the opportunity for any of us to get discouraged over our sins? Now some of the brethren here have done that very thing. They came here free; but the Spirit of God brought up something they never saw before. The Spirit of God went deeper than it ever went before, and revealed things they never saw before; and then, instead of thanking the Lord that that was so, and letting the whole wicked business go, … they began to get discouraged. …

If the Lord has brought up sins to us that we never thought of before, that only shows that he is going down to the depths, and he will reach the bottom at last; and when he finds the last thing that is unclean or impure, that is out of harmony with his will, and brings that up, and shows that to us, and we say, “I would rather have the Lord than that”—then the work is complete, and the seal of the living God can be fixed upon that character. … Let him go on, brethren; let him keep on his searching work (A. T. Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1893, p. 404).

But we have always thought that if we confess our sins, our hearts are then totally cleansed, and there can be no remaining unknown sin.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Very true; but let us please note that He cannot forgive and cleanse sins that we do not understandably confess. Sin is not magically cleansed like we press an erase button on a computer.

Confession must be specific and conscious: the sinner “shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing” (Leviticus 5:5). “True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins” (Steps to Christ, p. 38). But how can we intelligently and honestly confess sins that we are not aware of?

For example, selfish motives are most certainly sin. One may behave and pray today in utter sincerity believing that he or she has acted unselfishly, and then tomorrow recognize that there was sinful selfishness of motive in that act or word of yesterday.

This does not mean that one was not converted yesterday; but if we resist and reject that further conviction of the Holy Spirit and refuse to repent, then indeed we lose the conversion we had yesterday. There is no way that we can misunderstand both Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy by assuming that repentance is anything but a lifelong, ever deepening experience. Otherwise we lock ourselves into a terrible state of arrogant self-righteousness.

Does Ellen White speak of this idea of unknown sin being brought to our knowledge?

Yes, many times. We can briefly quote only a few examples:

Those who really desire to glorify God will be thankful for the exposure of every idol and every sin, that they may see these evils and put them away (Testimonies, Vol. 4, p. 354).

Everyone has undiscovered traits of character that must come to light through trials. God allows those who are self-sufficient to be sorely tempted, that they may understand their helplessness (Ibid., Vol. 7, p. 211).

If we have defects of character of which we are not aware, [the Lord] gives us discipline that will bring those defects to our knowledge, that we may overcome them. … But nothing is revealed but that which was in you (Review and Herald, August 6,1889).

God’s law is the test of our actions. His eye sees every act, searches every chamber of the mind, detecting all lurking self-deception and all hypocrisy (That I May Know Him, p. 290).

The work of restoration can never be thorough unless the roots of evil are reached. Again and again the shoots have been clipped, while the root of bitterness has been left to spring up and defile many; but the very depth of the hidden evil must be reached, the moral senses must be judged, and judged again, in the light of the divine presence (Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 1152).

Many … are placed in circumstances that seem to call forth all the evil of their nature. Faults are revealed, of which they did not even suspect the existence. … [God] brings these persons into different positions and varied circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge (Ministry of Healing, pp. 470, 471).

Is this not a discouraging ideal?

Nothing that the Holy Spirit brings to our knowledge can be discouraging. He is the Comforter!

If one has a cancer that is soon to kill him, should he be discouraged if the doctor diagnosed it correctly and performed the necessary surgery that would save his life?

But how important is it to overcome unknown sin? Doesn’t Jesus as our Substitute cover for it? Doesn’t His robe of righteousness hide our unknown deformities of character?

The issue is not the salvation of our own poor little souls, but the honor and vindication of Christ. We ourselves may be blissfully ignorant of our unknown sin, but nevertheless it brings shame on Christ. It can even bring perplexity to others who can see our unchristlikeness that we cannot see. Youth are often discouraged by the sinful inconsistencies of their undiscerning elders.

It is true that if we die before the Holy Spirit has brought unknown sin to our knowledge, we can trust our Substitute to “cover” for us. Martin Luther died while drinking his beer, and not knowing how sinful was his anti-Semitism that later encouraged the evils of Nazism. But his case in the judgment will not be as difficult as ours would be if we sin knowingly against far greater light.

If the Holy Spirit has brought unknown sin to our knowledge and we have resisted His “office work” and refused to repent, we may indeed make it impossible for ourselves to be saved at last. Here is the focal point of the Day of Atonement ministry of our High Priest. Ellen White related this work of the Holy Spirit’s probing deeply to reveal unknown sin with the Day of Atonement ministry of Christ:

We are in the day of atonement, and we are to work in harmony with Christ’s work of cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people. Let no man who desires to be found with the wedding garment on, resist our Lord in his office work (Review and Herald, January 21, 1890; see also January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, etc.).

The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary includes a parallel work in the hearts of God’s people on earth (The Great Controversy, pp. 425, 623). Its purpose is to prepare a people for translation. They must at last meet the Lord face to face without tasting death (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

But “our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). If there is sin still buried in our heart when we come into His presence, that fire will have to “consume” it, and we shall perish with it.

That is why the loving Holy Spirit wants to bring it to our attention today!

Does our 1888 history illustrate the problem of unknown sin in the hearts of Seventh-day Adventists?

Ellen White has said numerous times that the sin of those who rejected the 1888 message was of the same nature as the sin of the Jews who rejected Christ (for example, MS. 2, 1890; Testimonies to Ministers, p. 64; Review and Herald, April 11, 1893). Yet they “knew not” what spirit they were of, she says again (MS 24, 1892).

Apart from the specific grace of God we are by nature no better than they were. As we all partake of the sin of crucifying Christ (apart from God’s forgiveness received), so we partake of the guilt of our brethren of a century ago. Repentance is incumbent on us all.

Corporate repentance is repenting individually of sins which but for the grace of God we realize we would have committed if we had the opportunity. Dr. Arnold Wallenkampf says that what led our brethren in 1888 to reject the message was the sin of following others in “group dynamics” or “groupthink” (What Every Adventist Should Know About 1888, pp. 45, 46).

Today, likewise, nothing but the choice to be crucified with Christ will save us from the sin of following “group dynamics” in the numerous challenges that today confront us. There is no way any of us can follow Christ except to be crucified with Him.

Read Chapter 7—Questions About Corporate and Denominational Repentance

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